Fruit-slicing machine.



G. W. DREW.

FRUIT SLICING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4. 1 911.

1,2%4,038. Patented 001;. 23, 1917.

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l/VVE/VTOR f uff/ 1M? err- GEORGE w.'nnnw, or OAKLAND, o mronnrn.

FRUIT-SLICING- MACHINE. 1

Application filed October 4, 1911. Serial No. 652,341.

To all whom it may concern. I

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Draw, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit- Slicing Machines, of which the followingis a specification. I v I This invention relates to improvements in fruit slicing machines, the object of the invention being .to provide a fruit slicing machine whioh can be made at less cost, be more durable, less complicated, made positive in action, less liable to get out of order, more easily understood and operated than those heretofore used.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a front view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail of the inner end of a hanger, cross section of knife, longitudinal section of a hollow shaft and cross section of a collar. Fig. 4: is a cross section of the hollow shaft shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal View of a knuckle joint. Fig. 6 is a modified form of the hollow shaft shown in Fig. 3, and also modified form of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a modified form of the hollow shaft shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a modified form of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a partial face View of the hanger 3, sectional view of the lower end of the same, sectional view of the'shaft 7,. collar let, outter 6 and knuckle joint 8.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a semicircular cast iron frame or support with a slot 2 through which bolts 25 are placed to hold the hanger 3 in proper position; upon the support are assembled the hangers 3 which carry the slicing knives 6. These hangers converge toward the axis of the frame. Each end of this frame has. a base or foot 29 extending forward and back for securing it to a stand. On the bottom of one of these bases is attached a box 11' to carry the shaft 10. Upon the side of this box is attached the hanger 19, Fig. 2, to carry the shaft 26.

The hangers 3 are provided with slots 4 through which the bolts 25 are placed. These slots permit the hanger to be advanced as the diameter of the knives through use is diminished. The end of the hanger 3, toward the axis of the frame is provided with an opening 20, Fig. 9, through which the hollow shaft 7 is placed, the opening forming a box for the shaft 7. 24 is an adveyer belt 13.

cutter 6 near the center of bearing. To this flange the cutter 6 is secured by means of screws or bolts. Th1s shaft also has a square hole 16 running through it longitudinally.

About midway between the ends. of this square opening are lugs 17, running across the sides of the opening to preventthe knuckle o1nt from passing or dropping through the opening and holding it in proper position. This shaft is round out.- side and is provided with athread at one end to engage the collar 14, Fig. Between this collar 14 and the collar 18 is placed the hanger 3. 6 is a circular knife having a sharp edge and is firmly secured to the shaft 7 by means ofscrews or bolts, 15, Fig. 3. These knives are so placed upon the frame 1, that their lower edgeconverge to a common point at the center of the con- 8 is a knuckle joint in proper working position. 9 is a square opening in the upper end of the shaft lOandfits the end of the knuckle joint Fig. 5; into this opening is placed one end of the first knuckle joint 8. The other end of this knuckle is placed in the adjacent end of the; square hole of the first shaft 7, the second knucklehaving one end placed in the other end of'the first shaft 7 and engaging the second shaft 7 In this manner all the shafts 7 are connected up by knuckle joints 8. Thus it will be seen that when the shaft 10 revolves, the shafts 7 and their respective knives also revolve. 10'is a perpendicular shaft with its upper end adapted to the style of knuckle joint used to connect it with the first of the series of shafts 7. It may be a bronze or iron casting or plain shaft with the proper fitting secured to the upper end. 12, Figs. 1 and 2, are bevel gears and connect the rod 26 with the shaft 10. 12 Fig. 2 are bevel gears and connect the rod 26 with the main drive shaft 27; by this connecting rod 26 the main drive shaft 27 is connected with the shaft 10 (a belt drive may be used in place of this rod and gear drive). The drive pulley 28 for the conveyer belt 13 is placed on the main drive shaft. By revolving the main shaft 27 the entire machine is set in motion.

13, Fig. l is an end view of the conveyer 13, shown in Fig. 2. The top of this conveyer runs in the same direction as the bottom of the knives 6. It is used for carrying the fruit to and through the knives and de positing it in receptacles at the back of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a knuckle joint of the form preferred for my use. The ends and body part are square in cross section; the body portion is smaller than the ends to admit of an oscillating movement without striking and binding on the sides of the opening in the shaft 7. The ends are made of a size to fit the opening in the shaft 7 The four edges 23, Fig. 5, of each end are rounded to a diameter equal to the width of the square opening in the shaft 7. This will allow the knuckle to oscillate witliout'binding. The knuckle is made of a proper length to allow for adjustment as the diameter of the knives 6, is diminished through use and the hangers 3, are advanced bringing the ends of the shafts 7 closer together. The knuckles are made of metal, either bronze, cast iron or forged steel.

Fig. 6 is a modification of 7 and Fig. 5, showing a modified form of the shaft 7 with a square opening through it longitudinally. This opening is larger in the center than at the ends to permit the ends of this form of knuckle to oscillate. The inside edges 30 of the ends are rounded similar to the edges of the ends of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is also a modification of 7 having a round hole through its center longitudinally instead of the square hole in the former. Through each end of this shaft and the center of the hole are placed pins 21. Upon these pins the knuckle Fig. 8, works; the slots 22 fitting the pins 21.

Fig. 8 is a modified form of Fig. 5 being round in cross section to fit the opening in Fig. 7.

I claim,

1. In a slicing machine, the combination of a frame, a slotted semicircular supporting beam, the ends resting upon said frame, a series of hangers assembled upon said supporting beam in semi-circular order and on radial lines, a series of rotatable tubular shaft cutter mountings j ournaled in the convergent lower ends of said hangers, a knuckle joint member adapted to enter the opposite ends of the bore of said tubular shaft cutter mountings, and a power transmission connection to one of the knuckle joint members to rotate all of the knuckle joint members and tubular shaft cutter mountings.

2. In a slicing machine, the tubular shaft cutter mounting 7, having collar parts 14 and 18 for the purposes described and body part longitudinally bored or recessed to receive a knuckle joint member.

3. In a slicing machine, a rotatable tubular shaft cutter mounting provided with a central longitudinal bore'polyhedral in cross section and having an integral cutter carrier flange on one of its ends, anengaging removable flange on its other end and journal space between said flanges.

4;. In a slicing machine, a rotatable recessed shaft cutter mounting provided with central longitudinal recesses polyhedral in cross section and having an integral cutter carrier flange on one of its ends, an engaging removable flange on its other end, and journal space between said flanges.

5. In a slicing machine, the combination of a hanger 3, with its journal end offset to one side, a rotatable tubular shaft cutter mounting journaled in said hanger, having an integral cutter carrier flange 18 turned in and a knuckle joint member cooperating with said shaft cutter mounting.

6. In a slicing machine a rotatable tubular or recessed shaft cutter mounting with an integral cuttercarrier flange turned in.

7. In a slicing machine the'combination of a hanger 3 with its journal end offset to one side, a rotatable shaft cutter mounting journaled in said hanger, having an integral cutter carrier flange 10 turned in.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing wltnesses.

GEORGE W. DREW.

,Witnesses: E. P. VAUGHAN, IRA VAUGHN.

Bernice of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

